Rock Creek's Message Board

Well I joined a local Riverside Fly Fishing club and my first lesson starts next weekend. I know they will be giving us general info and equipment recommendations at the first class, but just wondering what you all might recommend for a starter setup for trout fishing in the sierras.

It may sound trivial, but I've always liked an 8 1/2 ft. 5 wt. as an all around rod. It's a little easier to weave your way through the bushes, will make a little brookie feel nice, and will handle a bigger fish easily. All of the brand names mentioned should be all right, the main thing is how it feels...if you can test cast any of them, pick the one that feels best to you. Not sure if you'll have a choice of lines when (if) you buy a package rod, I recommend a DTF (double taper floating, you can swap the line around every season, it will last twice as long) or a WFF (weight forward floating, it makes casting a little easier)...whichever, I like floating lines, but I'm a dry fly fisherman, the most exciting in my opinion.Congratulations on taking that first step, have fun with it, and don't get frustrated, it will be worth it in the end....Can you pat your head and rub your stomach?...if you can, you'll have it made.

I`ve heard of Temple Fork, and Reddington and I know BPS has their own brand, what about Okuma ? I have some of their conventional equipment and like It.

BPS has TFO (Temple Fork Outfitters), Redington, White River (House Brand), and Orvis starter kits in 9'5Wt and some in 8.6' 5Wt. If you want to get better quality you can also choose your own rod and reel w/backing & Fly line. Both Weight Forward Floating and Double Taper line in 5Wt is available. There are a couple of Okuma reels available too, but many many more choices.

Getting some lessons on the basics is an excellent starting point. Practicing casting is the key to being successful. I took the Long Beach Casting Clubs beginner and intermediate courses (six classes spread over six weeks) and they made the difference for me. What really made the difference was personal practice. I had a lawn at the fire station and would attach a piece of yarn and cast every evening after dinner. May I suggest that you start you journey using barbless hooks. Barbless hooks have just as high as catch rate as barbed but are much simpler to remove and easier on the fish. You are embarking on a lifelong obsession that both frustrates and brings immense pleasure when you crack the code.

I took a couple beginner classes but I learned the most from fishing with others. When I first started I fished with someone who used to post here now and then, Stanberry. It didn't matter where we were, river, creek, or float tube I would here him call out. 10 and 2 Gary, 10 and 2!!!

Introductory class was today, very interesting and I can hardly wait for next weekend`s casting class. Looks like a trip to BPS is in order. Then at the end of march it`s off to the Owens for an on the water lesson, hope the flows have calmed down by then.

I'm also a beginner fly fisher and have a trip slotted for silver lake resort in June. Any tips or local knowledge would be greatly appreciated. I have a 10 foot 3 weight that I will be using from a float tube and a also a 8ft 5 weight. Fishing Wff line and also conventional spinning tackle.

Silver Lake is probably the best lake of the June Lake Loop for fly-fishing. Silver Lake gets heavy fishing pressure during the summer, but maintains a large number of fish due to heavy plantings during the season. For float tubing, the outlet of Rush Creek, particularly during the spring when large Rainbows stage within the area for spawning are your best bet. There is a good drop-off from the southern shoreline where Rush/Reverse Creek enters at the inlet to Silver Lake. This drop-off is especially good during the early summer for large Browns as I found out. Float tubing at the inlet end in the evenings can easily produce double digit number of fish. I have success using Hornbergs, EHC, CA Mosquito and Grey Ghosts flies for this lake. Try using a dry fly indicator with a chironomid dropper during low light conditions. I use a 12' 4x-5x leader since the water is so very clear. A 5 weight rod completes my set-up. :flyfish:

Silver Lake is probably the best lake of the June Lake Loop for fly-fishing. Silver Lake gets heavy fishing pressure during the summer, but maintains a large number of fish due to heavy plantings during the season. For float tubing, the outlet of Rush Creek, particularly during the spring when large Rainbows stage within the area for spawning are your best bet. There is a good drop-off from the southern shoreline where Rush/Reverse Creek enters at the inlet to Silver Lake. This drop-off is especially good during the early summer for large Browns as I found out. Float tubing at the inlet end in the evenings can easily produce double digit number of fish. I have success using Hornbergs, EHC, CA Mosquito and Grey Ghosts flies for this lake. Try using a dry fly indicator with a chironomid dropper during low light conditions. I use a 12' 4x-5x leader since the water is so very clear. A 5 weight rod completes my set-up. :flyfish:

Thanks a bunch!! I've had my best luck on the south side and also caught a couple fishing trolling the north and east sides of the lake, will definitely be trying all the techniques you mentioned and will definitely be reporting how I do, trip slotted for June 9th-17

I loved fishing from my float tube but the low profile can make casting a workout. I think that the 10' rod should be an asset. I like to troll with a bead head wooly bugger, green and black are the most popular but purple is my go-to with a nymph trailer.

I am sure you will get many great suggestions. IMHO, based on my 35+ years of canvassing the 395 corridor from Lone Pine to South Lake Tahoe, I suggest the following based your requested locations, especially the Bishop shop at the bottom if your travels accommodate stopping by......(for me, exploration of local and old historical businesses is a big part of my enjoyment of the Eastern Sierra)

June Lake Ė I canít help you here but am confident several others will.Mammoth Ė

If you are driving up 395 from Southern CA I urge you to check this shop out:

Bishop Ė

Although they donít have a website for reference, and despite other good local competitors, I STRONGLY recommend this very old family owned shop in Bishop.GREAT and EXTENSIVE assortment, FANTASTIC prices on higher end items, not only flies but also things like Rio brand Leaders and other similar products and equipment.Very friendly, helpful and informative.

ďThe TroutfitterĒ is my go to place for when Iím in Mammoth Lakes. They carry an extensive fly inventory and everything you might need for fly fishing accessories. Best of all is there fishing knowledge. They do an excellent job of recommending what flies work best at your chosen fishing hole.

Ernieís at June Lake Village is decent for the area. Not the inventory of The Troutfitter, but enough to get into fish in the loop. Their fishing advice is good for drive-to lakes but misses on backcountry lakes in the area.

If youíre staying at Silver Lake Resort, you know their store carries a small fly inventory and fishing tackle that favors Silver Lake. They always are recommending Mice Tails when I ask whatís hot. Never tried Mice Tails myself as flies always worked for me. This is also my favorite for breakfast in the cafť when Iím in the area.

Love stopping in Bishop in the local sporting goods stores when Iím visiting. Reaganís, Macís and Culverís are all fun to visit and Iím like a kid in a candy store when there. Have fun!

PAC, and wshawkins are right on with their recommendations. The Troutfitter is unbelievable! Mac's in Biship is next door to Breakfast Heaven Jack's Restaurant so you can kill two birds with one stone. Jack's opens at 6am and Mac's opens at 7am. Welcome to the board, and enjoy your time in a beautiful place!

Thanks everybody, the advice really helps and should make my trip much more successful than it would have been. wshawkins, you mentioned back country lakes, I'd like to plan a trip to the Alger lakes to catch goldens as I might be attempting to catch all 5 species in the area,(not including hybrids) which I believe are brooks, browns, golden, rainbows, and the lahontan cutthroat, but correct me if I am wrong. Looking forward to being active on the forums with everyone :fishing3: :fishing3: Tight Lines to all!

Welcome to the Board! If you're planning a trip to Alger Lakes I'd think your best option is to plan to spend the night tenting it there, but I doubt if the lakes will be open in June. Probably still frozen tight. Later in the season the pack station can get you there, but if you're inclined to hike it's a bit of a boot crunch.

Always enjoyed the fishing at Alger Lakes, especially when the afternoon winds kicked up. Itís like somebody rang the dinner bell and all the Goldens came up to feed at the same time. Enjoy! :fishing3:

Anyone have a preferred strike indicator to use? I ordered some loon biostrike putty that you're supposed to just shape around your line, it had great reviews and seemed simple and effective in the video I watched, any replies are appreciated! Tight Lines!

Never tried Loon BioStrike Leader Putty before. I like that it gives you the option to make your strike indicator as large or small as it needed it to be. There is a variety of Strike Indicators for Fly Fishing out there. Everyone has their favorites. Mine are as follows as well some of the positives I see:Palsaģ Strike Indicators:

I have had fewer missed strikes when fishing for trout in the Eastern Sierra thanks to these strike indicators. I normally fish a 5 weight line for trout in streams and lakes and these work best for the fishing I do. There easy to attach, stay where you place them and are highly visible. Low cost for pack of 24.

Palsa Strike Indicators are among the best indicators on the market I believe, very light weight for ease of casting and result in a nice gentle landing on the water surface, resulting in fewer spooked fish. They are also adjustable by sliding up and down the leader and re-pinching for optimal depth. If the stream flow or weight of the fly is too much for 1 indicator, simply add another. Green is my go-to color.

Thingamabobber Strike Indicator:

I have been using thingamabobbers for several years. They stay afloat and are easy to see, especially when you get a strike. I highly recommend these in streams and lakes. These indicators stay on the line and donít slide up or down the line during casting and also very easy for you to adjust the bobber to the proper depth.

Easy on and off and floats all day. Suspends weighted flies easily and does cast pretty well. The rubber grommet keeps them from sliding and you can even tie flies with them. Works best while fishing a nymph with a dropper. I've used them with both 3 and 5-weight rods and they cast with ease.

Also, the Thingamabobber is perfect for the novice fly fisherman. Their design and construction makes seeing those subtle trout strikes more noticeable to the beginner.

Billtime for us to go have fun this summer.you have received great advice for all.the only thing i can add much to Scout's chagrin is if you get the bug to buy more fly rods go to a 3wt for rock creek and it back county.Maybe be 4wt.I have all three and what I showed you was a 3wt.

Heading up this coming Friday for a week, got all my stuff ready and the cameras packed so I'll try to get some nice pictures of the Silver Lake area and wherever else we end up fishing. Tight Lines to all!

PS: any last minute tips that will help me win the big fish bet :lol2: